Replacement Lights for RV With Lights Taking Water Damage

Updated 03/03/2023 | Published 02/28/2023

Products Featured in This Question

Opti-Brite LED Interior Strip Light w/ Switch - Submersible - 171 Lumens - 9" Long

(150)

$46.25

Single Rocker Switch - On/Off - Black

(35)

$13.84

Opti-Brite LED Interior Strip Light - Weatherproof - 171 Lumens - Clear Lens - 9" Long

(150)

$38.11

Opti-Brite LED Strip Light for RV Awnings - Weatherproof - Chrome Housing - 11" Long

(230)

$49.02

Question:

My RV came with Lucidity #22761 externally mounted. The RV is under a year old and after driving in winter conditions snow covered roads with heavy salt and other chemicals all 4 of my lights failed. They wouldnt turn off draining the battery and eventually stopped working. They failed at the on/off switch. The manufacturer gave me 4 free replacements, but not sure I want to install after 100 failure on the originals. The original lights have a 9 3/32mounting hole spacing. The are mounted to a piece of plastic with 10inch mounting holes spacing covered by a chrome bezel. Options are to buy lights with out switches and install a switch inside my RV or buy lights with on/off switches that will survive externally. We boondock camp off the grid and with a failure mode of the light not shutting off from salt water shorting out the board it drains the battery. Battery life is very precious when boondocking. Options Im looking at * ILL70CSB - same dimensions as my current lights. Says submersible with on/off switch. Worried about water ingress at on/off switch. Found where you recommended for boat trailer. * ILL70CB - Same dimensions on current. Just need to determine if I can add a sperate interior switch for all lights. * ILL70CBAWN - 11inch light, wont fit with current bezel, but will fit in the same place as current lights. Says waterproof. Again worried about water ingress at on/off switch. Ideally I would like to power wash the RV and not have to worry about damaging the lights.

asked by: Steve P

Expert Reply:

Lights with separate switches is probably the best option to prevent the failure at the switch you encountered. Also, manufacturers are going to tell you not to power wash any lights like these. Even if they are waterproof and submersible they aren't designed to hold up to the force from power washing.

The # ILL70CSB is sealed and waterproof. Optronics does a good job with their waterproofing so even with the built in switch I doubt you will have an issue if you choose to use it.

The # ILL70CB is weatherproof, so not quite the same waterproof rating but I would expect it to hold up to the conditions you described. Just not power washing. A light like this one could use a simple switch like the # 37212225.

The # ILL70CBAWN is also weatherproof and actually doesn't have a built in switch. It could use the same style toggle switch for operation.

Because of your concern about battery power, I would stick with lights that have a switch mounted inside the trailer. That way you can kill the power even if they fail.